Railroad-spike.



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, RAILROAD SPIKE. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 9. I915 Patented Nov. 30, 1915.

' INVENTOR 0TT0 .Wf/ss, W-6Q A TTQRNEYS Wrrrn STATES PATENT orricn.

OTTO WEISS, 0F SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH, ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-HALF TO WILLIAM SUNDAY,

OF SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH.

RAILROAD-SPIKE.

tion is to provide a spike embodying im-' proved means whereby the spike may be retained against accidental disengagement from a sleeper or tie after having been driven into the same.

Still another object of the invention is to provide aspike having an improved looking means, which is capable of being operated in such manner as to allow removal of the spike at will without mutilation of the i same.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved spike including a bar slidable within a groove or slot in the spike and carrying spring operated prongs controllable at will whereby to engage within the material of the sleeper, or to be housed within the spike to allow removal of the latter.

- A still further object isto provide an improved spike of the class described, which will be extremely simple, durable, efiicient in operation, and inexpensive to manufacture. 'With these and other objects in view which will become apparent as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the "construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully .described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which like characters of reference indicate like parts throughout the several figures, of which Figure 1 represents a view in section taken centrally and longitudinally through a spike constructed according to my invention. Fig. 2 represents a view'in elevation looking at the spike from-the rear side thereof, the view being shown partially in section on the plane indicated by the line 22 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 represents a fragmentary view in rear elevation showing the position of parts when the Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed February 9, 1915. Serial No. 7,025.

spike is ready to be withdrawn. Fig. 4 represents a View in horizontal section taken on the plane indicated by the line H of Fig. 1. "Fig. 5 represents a View in horizontal section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1. Fig. 6 represents a view in horizontal section taken on the plane indicated by the line 6-6 of Fig. 1.

In carrying out my invention I provide a spike including a body portion 5 and a head 6. The rear face of body 5 is provided with a longitudinally extending T-shaped channel or slot indicated at 7. This channel, slot, or groove as it may be termed, extends from the lower end of the spike upwardly and terminates at the rear portion of head 6. Extending through the head in alinement with the channel is an opening 8.

A bar 9 is provided and is slidably disposed within channel 7. The bar is substantially T-shaped in crosssection to conform with the shape of the channel. The outer face 10 of the bar lies flush with the rear face of spike 5. The inner face of bar 9 is provided with an upper recess 11 and a lower recess 12 for the reception respectively of an upper pair of prongs 13 and a lower pair 14. .These pairs of prongs are pivoted at their inner ends upon lugs or pins 15 pro vided on bar 9, and at their outer ends are sharpened as at 16. The prongs comprising each pair are disposed one upon the other,-

and the total thickness of each pair of prongs is substantially equal to the depth of the recess in which" they are disposed.

The spike 5 is provided in both sides with slots 17 communicating with the channel adjacent the upper recess 11 and with slots 18 communicating. with the channel adjacent the lower recess 12. Each slot is provided for the reception'of one of the prongs where by the latter, when in proper position, may extend outwardly through the slot so as to project laterally of the spike in position to engage the material of the sleeper or other element in which the spike is driven.

Formed near the upper ends of recesses 11 I tend to force theprongs apart. From Fig. 2 it will be noted that the prongs of the upper and lower pairs nearest the observer eX- tend'in opposite directions, and the same is true of the prongs farther away from the observer. Thus the prongs on each side ofthe spike are arranged in staggered relation. From Figs. 4 and 5 it will be noted that the lower set of slots 18 in the sides of the spike are arranged in staggered relation with the upper set 17. From this construction it follows that in initially disposing the bar within the slot, the pairs of prongs having been forced together by hand, the upper prongs 13 will be out of alinement with the lower slots 18 and will not engage them in passing, so that the movement of the bar into the channel will not be prevented or retarded. The lower prongs, however, will come into registration with the lower slots when the bar is shoved home.

After the bar is inserted the prongs are pressed outwardly by means of the springs through their respective slots into the position indicated in Fig. 2. The spike is then ready for use. Upon driving the spike into a cross tie or other element in which it is desired that the spike be retained, the prongs which it will be noted are inclined upwardly will rest within their slots 17-and 18 respectively against the tension of springs 20 and in such position that upon a tendency of the spike to become loosened or move upwardly, the biting ends 16 of the prongs will sink within the material of the element in which the spike is driven, and will prevent the withdrawal of said spike. When, however, it is desired that the spike be withdrawn, a metallic rod or nail may be inserted through the opening 8 in the spike head 6 and may be driven against the upper end of bar 9 whereby to shift the latter downwardly relatively to the spike. This operation will' cause the prongs by engagement with the lower beveled edges 21 of the slots 17 and 18 to be returned within those slots into the position indicated in Fig. 3, whereupon the spike may be Withdrawn in the usual manner.

In manufacturing the spikes, they will be properly tempered and treated so as to render them strong and rust-proof. Such a spike as I have provided may be very readily and without extra force. or exertion driven home, and when in position willbe maintained against any loosening tendency incident to the passage of rolling stock over the rails. The spike may be, as set out above, readily withdrawn at will, and without mutilation of the spike, so that it may be used over again as many times as desired.

Although I have described the preferred embodiment of my inv ntion, I may desire to make such changes in the construction,

combination and arrangement of parts thereof as to not depart from the splrit of the invention and the scope of the'appended claims.

I claim p 1. The combination with a spike provided with a T-shaped channel in its rear face,- of a bar slidably disposed within the channel and provided with prong receiving recesses, the outer face of said bar lying flush in the spike being disposed in staggered relation for receiving the prongs, substantially as described.

2. A device of the class described, includ- .ing a spike having a channel in one face thereof, and having a plurality of slots in its sides and communicating with the channel, a bar slidably disposed within the channel, pairs of prongs pivotally disposed upon the bar and adapted to extend each through one of the slots in the spike, resilient means for normally maintaining said prongs in separated position relatively to each other whereby to maintain the free ends of the prongs without the spike, said prongs being inclined toward the head of the spike, means being provided to permit shifting of the bar relatively to the spike when the spike is in position in the tie for retracting the prongs within the slots, substantially as described.

3. A device of the class described, including a spike having a head provided at one end, said spike being provided longitudinally on one side with a channel, the head being provided with an opening alining with said channel, a bar slidably disposed within the channel and provided with a plurality of pivoted prongs adapted normally to extend outwardly beyond the sides of the spike through slots therein, and means for normally maintaining the prongs in outward position, substantially as described.

5. The combination with a spike of a bar 180 movable relatively [thereto and provided shifted relatively to the spike whereby to with a plurality. of pivoted prongs adapted withdraw the prongs from beyond the sides to normally extend beyond the opposite sides of the spike. of the spike and be inclined toward the head OTTO WEISS. 5 of the spike, resilient means fornormally Witnesses:

maintaining said prongs in outwardly ex-,. v C. R. BRADFORD, I tending position, said bar adapted to be N. G. MORGAN.

Copies of thls patent may be obtained for five tents eachyby addressing the Gommissio neri of Patents} Washington, D. G." 

